vieux schnock writes: The New Scientist has an article about a new laser developed by a company in Farnborough, UK, aiming at deterring modern high-seas pirates. Devised as a "warning shot" to "distract suspected pirates rather than harm them", the meter-wide bean can scan the pirates' 6-metre skiffs and make it difficult for them to aim their AK-47 or rocket-propelled grenades at the ship.